IGNORE THE FOLLOWING: IT IS JUST HERE TO HELP ME HIT THE 500 WORD MARK:

Arek drew his razor sharp knife across a bone, separating the bloody meat from it with a single, clean slice. The large orc tossed the bone to the ground. He set the juicy steak down on a large rock and wiped his hands off on the grass.

He turned to the small campfire that he’d already set up. A small pillar of smoke rose up from the gently crackling wood and disappeared into the night sky. Arek licked his lips and readjusted the dirty white hat on his head.

The orc grabbed a metal canister from amongst the dozens of vials strapped to his body. He popped the cap off and tipped it over slightly, pouring a thin stream of dark oil into an already smoking wok.

Arek pulled two somewhat bruised oranges from a pouch at his side, slicing them open with a huge cleaver and squeezing their juice into a clay bowl. His hands seemed to blur as he added a red paste and several other spices, pausing only to quickly dip a finger into the mixture and taste it.

He let out a satisfied grumble and pulled out yet another jar from his repertoire. This one was slightly larger than the rest. The orc set it beside the steak and went to work with his butcher knife, slicing it into dozens of thin pieces.

Arek twisted the top off the jar, shaking some of the thick white powder within it onto the meat and massaging it in. He tossed the sliced meat into the wok. Oil sizzled and popped angrily, but the orc was unbothered as the hot liquid splashed against his bare skin.

Within seconds, the delectable smell of cooking meat mixed with musky oil and firewood filled the air. Behind him, a branch snapped. The orc’s ear twitched, but he didn’t even glance behind himself. He begun turning the slices over with his bare fingers to allow the other side to cook.

Another branch snapped. This time, he glanced behind him. A young woman stared at him from the edges of his camp, her eyes wide. A huge bundle of cloth was strapped to her back. Arek raised an eyebrow in her direction. Generally, this was where people either ran to attack him or to get somebody else to do it for them.

To the orc’s surprise, the woman did neither. She just stood at the edge of the camp, staring at him with wide eyes. Arek shrugged, returning his attention to his meal. The chef pulled the meat from the hot metal and set it aside. He then tipped the contents of the bowl into the wok, adding a sweet citrusy tang to the aroma surrounding him.

He rocked back on his heels. This would take a little time to reduce. He glanced back at the young woman to get a better look at her. She’d sat down on the large cloth bundle she’d been carrying. Her eyes were firmly locked on the sizzling wok.

Arek chuckled, sprinkling more of the white powder into the sauce before adding the meat back in, tossing the whole dish together before pouring half of it back into the clay bowl. He picked it up and strode over to the woman.

She glanced up at him in surprise, but Arek just set the bowl down beside her and returned to the campfire. He poured the remaining half of the food into a second bowl. He sat down on a nearby rock and started to eat.

The woman watched him for a moment before glancing down at the bowl beside her. She grabbed it off the ground and gingerly picked up a crispy piece of beef. It was completely coated with the thick, sweet sauce.

She popped it into her mouth. The woman chewed once, watching Arek suspiciously. Then her eyes expanded. She swallowed. Then she tipped the bowl back, shoveling the food into her mouth with the gusto of a starving man.

Arek paused mid bite to watch his meal disappear into the stranger’s gullet. He chuckled and returned to his own food, enjoying the woman’s reaction. Once she’d polished every last morsel off, she sent a longing glance at the empty wok.

“Did you seriously make that?” She asked, finally breaking the silence.

“You watched me, didn’t you?” Arek replied, swallowing before he spoke.

“That was amazing. Heavenly even. I didn’t know it was possible for food to taste so good. It might even be better than the fancy stuff I’ve had inside cities.”

“Thank you,” Arek rumbled, failing to hide his proud grin. “I’ll have to take your word for it. I’ve never been in a city.”

“I suppose they wouldn’t let an orc in, would they?” The girl mused. “I’m sorry. You seem kind enough, even if you are a bit strange. Most orcs don’t take up cooking.”

“The lone girl approaching an orc in the middle of the field calls me strange?” Arek asked, bemused. “And maybe more orcs would cook if humans weren’t so busy killing all of them.”

“Really?”

“Nah. I’m an exception,” Arek replied, his grin widening. “Most of my kind would have split you in two if they were given the chance. Any reason why you’re buddying up to a monster instead of hanging out with your human friends?”

“I could smell your cooking from a mile away,” the woman replied dreamily. “It was like a beacon that I couldn’t resist. By the way, call me Ming.”

Arek watched her for a few moments, but the strange young woman seemed genuine enough.

“I am Arek,” he finally replied. “It is dangerous to approach strangers, especially when you’re so small. You should be more careful.”

Ming flashed a wide grin at the orc. She patted the bundle beneath her confidently and drew a deep breath. Wind rushed past the campsite, twirling around her with enough speed to slice through the grass around her.

“I appreciate your concern, Arek. Even if it is wasted. Trust me, I’m more than capable of protecting myself,” Ming said.

“I see,” Arek grunted. “A magic user. I suppose that would help. So, Ming. What exactly is it you want from me? I never mind cooking for anyone, but something tells me you have an ulterior motive.”

“Not at all,” Ming replied quickly.

Arek raised an eyebrow.

“Okay, maybe just slightly. I want to give you a job,” Ming said.

“Now you’ve really lost me,” Arek said. “I’m not a bodyguard.”

“You’re misunderstanding,” Ming replied. “I don’t need someone to protect me. I want to hire you as a chef.”